Swimming apparatus



Sept. 8, 1931. LEBLANC/ 1,821,974

- SWIMMING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 8, 1931. J. LEBLANC 1,821,974

SWIMMING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOLQ LGA am abbmq Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATS JOSEPH LEBLANC, OF OTTAVJA, ONTARIO, CANADA SWIMMING APPARATUS Application filed May 13, 1931.

The present invention relates to swimming apparatus and its primary object is to provide a novel and highly useful device of this character designed to reduce to the minimum the physical exercise necessary in swimming,

to permlt a practical swimmer to maize greater speed and to enable an unskilled person to readily and quickly learn to swim.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is simple'and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will not interfere with the wearers movements out of the water.

It is also contemplated that the apparatus may be of such a nature as to provide air chambers which will assist in keeping the user afloat.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus adapted to be applied to the forearm, the wings being shown in operative 0 position;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, the wings being shown in inoperative position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of that portion of the apparatus to be attached to the foot. the Wings being shown in inoperative position;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan of a modified wing;

Fig. 7 1s a section of such modification; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective showing one mode 15 of using the device.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, and with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 3 it will be observed that 1O designates a body member having wings Serial No. 537,141.

11 hinged thereto at 12. The body 10 comprises a relatively narrow member constructed of any suitable material having a reinforcing head or frame 13 outlining same. Hingedly mounted adjacent one end of the member 10 is a grip or handle 14: which may )6 grasped by the user of the device. Adjacent the handle is a strap 15 adapted to buckle around the wrist and adjacent the other end of the member 10 is a similar strap 16 for buckling around the forearm. The straps are preferably attached to the body member by means of metal reinforcing members 17 and 18 respectively which add rigidity to the device, and these members may be extended as found desirable to partially encircle the arm, as illustrated in the member 18.

If desired the metal members 17 and 18 may be bent around the edges of the bodyiu member 10 to provide pintles to which hinged members may be attached and in this event the independent hinges 12 may be omitted.

The grip 14 is hinged to permit folding, for storage and if the member 18 is made of material insufiiciently flexible to fold or collapse, it may be suitably hinged.

The wings 11 comprise frames 19 construct cd of wire and strips of canvas 20 or any other suitable material, which is stretched over and secured to the frames. Any other suitable material may be used to form the 'Wings but it is desired that a chamber 21 be formed within each of the wings which may be inflated to act as a float. The forward end of each wing may be bent over to give a scoop shape to the wings as indicated at 22, this shape being designed to assist in the propelling motion when the device is in use.

Referring now to Figs. 4: and 5 there. is provided a body member 30 formed similarly to the member 10 and having attached thereto U-shaped members 31 and 32 of rigid material. The upper ends of these members 31 and 32 form pintles for hinges 33 and 34 9 which serve as a means of attachment for wings 35. The wings 35 are constructed in a manner similar to the wings 11 to provide inflatable chambers. t will be noted that the height of the. U-member 31 is slightly .1 0

greater than the width of the wings 35 so that in walking, there will be no danger of damaging the wings. The member 30 is also provided with a heel portion 36 which may be strapped over the instep of the wearer as shown in 37. A forward strap 38 may likewise be provided for encircling the foot at the base of the toes.

In Figs. 6 and 7, a slightly modified form of wing structure is illustrated, this form including merely a frame member 40 of wire or other suitable material having a flat strip of canvas 41 or like material stretched thereover. There is no air chamber provided in this form.

In practice that portion of therapparatus shown in Figs. lto 3 is applied to-the forearms 'and the device of Figs.4 and 5 applied to the feet, both the arm and foot devices being usedcooperatively. Duringthe propelling strokes the wings 11 and 35 assume positions in planes' parallel to the body members 10 and '30, and during the reach or return strokes the wings will fold at right angles with relation-to "the body. The 'portions 10 and 30 being relatively narrow offer 'no more resistancetothe water than the arm or foot.

In-order to limit-the movement o-f-the wings during the propelling-strokes, the hinges 12, '33 and 3 l may be provided with stop portions indicated at 42, and to limit the-movement of reach or return stroke, stops 4:3 may be at- -'tached to the under-surfaceof the wings 11, the wings 35 being stopped by U-mem'bers 31. The use ofsuchstops'facilitatesreversal of movement in the wings, from one stroke to the next.

Inasmuchas thewings assume positions in parallel planesto the body members during the propelling strokes'and positions at-right angles with relation to said body member, during the reach-orreturnstroke, it will be apparent that the physical exercise necessary 'inswimming-may be reduced, that a skilled swimmer may make great speed and that a person unskilled may readily and quickly learn to swim. The scoop portions 22 will facilitate the propulsion in an obvious man- 'ner.

ln Fig. '8 thereis illustrated a slightly differentmode of wearing theapparatus which may be found desirable in "places where limited swimming facilities are provided. It =willbe'noticed'that the arm portions of the apparatus arestrapped to the upper arms, around the biceps, and the "foot portions of theapparatus are strapped to the calf portion of the leg. The heel section 36 is preferalblycutaway or sufficiently flexible'to permit of 'this use, or may be omitted entirely if desired.

With the apparatus "used in this manner, and with the. chambers-offhe wings inflated, an unskilled swimmer Will be held afloat and by simulating a walking movement will be propelled forward due to the normal action of the arms and legs.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the device will be readily understood without a further extended description.

Changes in the form and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of this invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is 1. A swimming apparatus comprising a body, wings hingedly connected to'the body, a transverse reinforcingmember for strengthening the body and limiting the tmovements of the wings in one direction, said memberbeing shaped to partially encase a limb of the wearer and'having mean-s by which the device may be secured in applied position.

2. A swimming apparatus comprising a body, consisting of a frame and-a strip of material stretched over and secured to the frame, and wingsconsisting of frames and strips of material st etched over and secured to the frames, portions of the wing'frames being engaged with the'body frame to hinged ly connect the wings to the body.

3. A SWllllHllIlg apparatus comprising a body, plates-secured toith'e body and formed to provide pintles, said platesextending latrally beyond the body, wings hingedly con -11 nected to the pintles, the movements of the wings being limited in one direction bysaid lateral projections, means for limiting the movements of the wings inthe reverse direc- 'tion, one of said plates being shaped to partially encase a limb of the wearer and having means by which the apparatus .may 'be socured in applied position.

4. A swimming apparatus comprising a body, adapted to be secured to a limb o'fthe wearer, means on said bodyfor securing the apparatus in applied position, wings hingedly connected -to the body, said wings having inflatable air chambers.

5. A swimming apparatus comprising a engaged with the body to hingedly connect the wings to the body.

6. A swimming apparatus comprising a body, wingshingedly connected to the body,

means for limiting the movement of the wings in one direction, and a foldable grip secured to the body-and by means of which the apparatus-may beheld in applied position.

7. A swimming apparatus comprising a body, scoop-shaped wings hingedly connected to the body, said wings being provided with an inflatable air chamber.

8. A swimming apparatus comprising a member having a body consisting of a frame and a strip of material stretched over and se cured to the frame, said body being adapted to be secured to the arm and having movable wings consisting of frames and strips of material stretched over and secured to the frame,

said wing frames being movably attached to the body frame and a member having a body similar to said first body adapted to be secured to the leg and having movable wings, similar to said first mentioned wings and movably attached to said second body member, said members being cooperatively usable for propulsion of the wearer, and means on each member to limit the movement of the wings in one direction.

9. A swimming apparatus comprising a member adapted to be secured to the arm and having movable inflatable wings, and a member adapted to be secured to the leg and having movable inflatable wings, said members being cooperatively usable for propulsion of the wearer, and means on each member to limitthe movement of the wings in one direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. so JOSEPH LEBLANC. 

